A cook employed at a Catholic missionary school in Jharkhand has accused the institution’s priest and principal of repeatedly raping her, forcing her to terminate a pregnancy and threatening her with dismissal if she disclosed the assaults to anyone.
The accused, identified as Thomas Soren, is also the principal of St Alphonsa School and has reportedly been absconding since the allegations came to light.
Godda, Nov 3, 2026 11:50 IST
A 32-year-old tribal woman employed at a Catholic missionary school in Jharkhand has accused a priest associated with the institution of repeatedly raping her, forcing her to undergo an abortion and threatening her when she resisted.
The accused, identified as Father Thomas Soren, is also the principal of St Alphonsa School and has reportedly been absconding since the allegations surfaced.
According to the woman’s complaint, she was working outside the district when Father Thomas Soren contacted her and offered her a job at the mission.
In June, she arrived at the mission with her husband and was hired to cook meals for children staying at the hostel. She was promised a monthly salary of Rs 9,000, while her husband was to receive Rs 7,000.
The woman said that the priest’s behaviour changed within days of her joining. On June 19, just two days after she started work, he allegedly called her into his bedroom while she was preparing vegetables alone in the kitchen, shut the door
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